LAKEWOOD, Ohio — While we've been reporting on several restaurant closures, such as Nighttown, Dontes and numerous Melt Bar and Grilled locations, one local spot is about to celebrate 50 years.
Around The Corner in Lakewood has continued to thrive despite so many challenges.
Mickey Krivosh opened Around the Corner in Sept. 1974 when he was 23.
“I worked seven days a week for two years without a day off, and I was nervous as hell because I had so many loans, and my mom says, whatever you do, don't lose my house. So, the pressure was on," said Mickey.
That pressure led to a West-side diamond for Krivosh that has delivered great food, spirits, entertainment, and many laughs and memories.
During an interview with 3News' Dave Chudowsky, Mickey explained how he has been so successful for 50 years.
“You have to be very creative. You have to give people a reason to walk in your door, and so I've always been pretty good at that, and you have to really enjoy what you do."
And he has, with family right by his side. Mickey met his wife Patty at ATC two years after it opened, and they are now two years away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
His daughter Jennifer helps him run Georgetown and Vosh, the other Lakewood establishment they own, while his son Ryan oversees business at Around The Corner.
“Ryan used to work here when he was eight, ten years old, and he'd water all the flowers in the patio and he'd wash dishes," said Mickey.
“My dad worked extremely hard; he instilled some really good work ethic in my sister and I, and he's a role model, and he's a leader and a pillar in this community," said Ryan
Being a family-owned and operated business has been a big reason the business has flourished.
“It's family. People know that we've been here for 50 years, and you get that family feeling when you come here. It's not a corporate place,” said Ryan.
The celebration with their Around The Corner family will include bringing back 10-cent wing night.
“I was the very first one to introduced buffalo wings to the Cleveland market,” said Mickey. “And that's how we got the claim of fame."
Along with innovative ideas like karaoke, a pop-up Christmas bar, and igloo dining, it’s all for the customers because Mickey and Ryan know that is what keeps them going.
“Every single day we wake up, we talk about it, how can we do that and how can we have fun? Let people have fun being here," said Ryan
The Krivosh family hopes to keep business going for many more generations to come. For decades they have expanded their empire and have some possible ideas about a really-big remodel in the future.
The celebration at Around The Corner starts Thursday night and runs through Sunday. The Krivosh family has plenty of events planned throughout the four days, including 10-cent wings, contests and games with great prizes, music, a family fun day, free t-shirts and a Browns' party.